My name is Saira Mirza and I was born in New York. My father is Bengali and my mother is Pakistani. Growing up, me and my siblings spoke English, Urdu, Bengali, and a little bit of Hindi. We were exposed to various cultures at once from our families and from the diverse city of Queens in which we lived. When I wasn't in school or doing my homework, I was always with family members. My mother's and father's relatives all lived in New York and there was always a member of our family stopping by our house to say hi. Our families focus immensely in "staying together". Every weekend was an opportunity for someone to host a barbecue or dinner. Every weekend about twenty-five people would gather wearing the latest fashions of Bangladesh or India and feast on delicious food. I grew up with my siblings, cousins, and aunts as my best friends. Though only my parents and siblings live in Georgia, our bond with the rest of our families remain intact. I remember all the joyous moments during religious holidays, birthdays, and monthly occurring family reunions. As a growing adult, I have kept my family values in my heart and will continue to do so.
My name is Saira Mirza and I was born in New York. My father is Bengali and my mother is Pakistani. Growing up, me and my siblings spoke English, Urdu, Bengali, and a little bit of Hindi. We were exposed to various cultures at once from our families and from the diverse city of Queens in which we lived. When I wasn't in school or doing my homework, I was always with family members. My mother's and father's relatives all lived in New York and there was always a member of our family stopping by our house to say hi. Our families focus immensely in "staying together". Every weekend was an opportunity for someone to host a barbecue or dinner. Every weekend about twenty-five people would gather wearing the latest fashions of Bangladesh or India and feast on delicious food. I grew up with my siblings, cousins, and aunts as my best friends. Though only my parents and siblings live in Georgia, our bond with the rest of our families remain intact. I remember all the joyous moments during religious holidays, birthdays, and monthly occurring family reunions. As a growing adult, I have kept my family values in my heart and will continue to do so.